[Last Of The Jedi] - 08(7)

“I’ve changed.”

“We have all changed.” It was the most Ry-Gaul had spoken in more than a day.

“Ferus, we’re all sorry about Roan,” Solace said. “He is one with the Force now.”

“He was one of the best,” Clive said. “The galaxy is diminished.”

Ferus didn’t acknowledge their comments. Again, the unease sent its tendrils snaking around Solace’s insides. The Ferus she knew would have said something, would have agreed or shared how he was feeling.

“We can’t risk a long communication, so Solace wasn’t able to give me details,” Ferus said, changing the subject abruptly back to Ry-Gaul. “How did you escape Order 66?”

“I was on a mission that only Yoda and Mace knew about,” Ry-Gaul said. “I was undercover, not traveling as a Jedi. Some scientists took me in - a man and his wife. They disappeared, and I’ve been looking for them. Tobin Gantor and Linna Naltree.”

“But Linna Naltree is here,” Ferus said. “She’s working for the Empire. Under duress, I think. She was the one who helped Trever escape the garrison when Amie was captured and…” Ferus stopped. He swallowed.

He can’t even speak Roan’s name, Solace realized.

“Can we get her out?” Ry-Gaul asked.

“I don’t know,” Ferus said. “I don’t know what pressure Vader is putting on her. I can try to talk to her.”

Ry-Gaul exhaled. “I’m glad she’s here and not in some prison. That was what I feared. As I searched, I found other scientists who had disappeared.”

Ferus nodded. “They’ve been recruited by the

Empire for a big project. I just don’t know what it is. Only the Emperor, Vader, and maybe Moff Tarkin know the extent of it. They’re doing research, building something big. Maybe they’re creating a whole prefabricated city and will plunk it down somewhere. Sounds crazy, but the plans are on that scale.”

“So what’s the plan to rescue Amie?” Solace asked. She pushed away her uneasiness. What was it, anyway? Something in his eyes? Some disturbance in the Force? Something about the way he wasn’t really looking at her?

“We’ll go over it after I get you into the city,” Ferus said. “The Eleven sent a team to complete a tunnel under the lake near the landing platform. You’ll have surprise on your side.” Ferus hesitated. “I can’t tell you how much I wish I could go on this mission with you.”

“Nonsense,” Solace said briskly. “We have you deep in Imperial territory. We can’t pull you out for this.”

“I’m scheduled to meet with Hydra, the Head Inquisitor, on Coruscant,” Ferus said. “I’ll have access to the list of possible Jedi. This means we could find others. In any case, I’ll be far away when the plan is executed.”

“Darth Vader will try to blame you anyway,” Give said. “He’s nasty that way.” dive’s dark eyes suddenly had a hint of sorrow in them. “But you are well acquainted with his ruthless ness,” he said quietly.

It was the second acknowledgment Clive had made of Ferus’s pain, and Solace expected Ferus to turn to Clive, to let him know in word or gesture that he had heard it. But he didn’t.

Instead, she felt the tremor in the Force that was surrounding Ferus. Vader’s name had done it.

“We can use my transport to enter the city,” Ferus said. “This vehicle has automatic clearance through the checkpoints.”

“Too bad we can’t use this baby on our getaway,” Clive said, eyeing the airspeeder.

“All automatic clearances are canceled when an attack occurs,” Ferus reported. “You wouldn’t get far. We’ve got the checkpoints covered another way.”

“Have you seen Vader since you were released from the holding cell?” Solace asked. She wasn’t interested in the answer so much as Ferus’s reaction to the name.

Ferus’s face tightened. “He left the garrison for the mountains,” he said.

Solace felt it again. The dark side of the Force was touching Ferus like a shadow. She wanted to tell him to beware, but this wasn’t the time or place.

“I have to return to the garrison now,” he said. “I’ll drop you near the safe house. I don’t want to bring an Imperial vehicle too close to it.”

He was lying. She knew it. She didn’t know why. Perhaps it was a harmless untruth, but Ferus had never told her a lie before.

They climbed into the transport. Ferus took off, piloting the craft expertly through the crowded space lanes and zooming past the checkpoints. He dropped Solace, Clive, and Ry-Gaul at a deserted corner.